MAY ALL CREATION SING
OUR SAVIOR IS HERE
WHAT A MERRY TIME OF YEAR!

My prayer for you is that you will have the most
Spirit filled Holiday, wrapped in love and overflowing with JOY!

I hope that you will personally make room for Jesus
at the Inn of your own heart. He is the greatest gift.
We can celebrate His birthday in peace, knowing ...
He is Alive, He loves us and is Reason for the Season!

May the Bells in your heart RING OUT loudly and exuberantly and proclaim
that Joy to the World is WITH us!!

Saturday, December 3, 2011

CHRISTMAS ... STOP AND SMELL THE PINE TREES!

  STOP TO SMELL THE PINE TREES!

Christmas is the busiest time of the year.  It is not surprising that we can easily lose the significance of the season with all the hustle and bustle of shopping for presents, socking suffers, food for the Holiday table, assorted  grab bag gifts for parties, office activities, and so much more. 
Years ago we had a Christmas party every year.  Everyone would bring hors d'oeuvres and we supplied the special Cranberry Holiday punch, Eggnog, Brandy Alexander, Grasshoppers and Irish Coffee... some of our guests arranged for group babysitters to be at several other homes, with Holiday activities for the children, as it was an adult only party. 
All of this was so much fun, and all of your friends looked so forward to it every year.  A friend of mine has a true Godly father from Scotland who came one year and he was amazed that we were all dressed up and having holiday punch and listening to music on one hand and the conversations on the other hand were intermingled with "Praise the Lord" and talk about God and His goodness ... he said he had never seen that before and he wanted to come to the party every year!!!!  ... 

And, oh that party was oh so fun ...but i think in many places we can allow the focus of all the frivolity take our focus away from the things that count.  I have been corresponding with a friend who reconnected with me.  He went to my church and also my High School.. we graduated together.  Doing this has stirred up many memories for me.  As we were emailing each other, he brought up something that made me think of my Christ Church days, and it then reminded me of a story, my mother relayed to me.  I shared it with our congregation years ago in a sermon and my conversation with my friend encouragement  sparked this blog post.  

When I was young, our pastor asked my mother to take over a Sunday School class of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade boys who no other Sunday School teacher would take as they were distracting the class!  She agreed, as she could never refuse our pastor, even though she had her work cut out for her with this handful of active and a bit unruly boys. We lived close to the church, and so many Sunday mornings if the weather permitted, we would walk to church.  I loved this time with my mother.  I have always been a free spirit who has not much regard for time, except when I have been working ... but, I was about 8-10 at the time and was late most of the time, which just about drove my mother crazy as she was always early.  So this particular morning it was just the beginning of Spring and I was total enamored with all the new activity I was viewing in nature.  My favorite flowers are Spring flowers.  I have never been one who loves store bought flowers that much.  But, a handpicked bouquet with my favorite Spring flowers of Lilacs, Lily of the Valley, Violets, Forsythia, Tulips and such will cause me to squeal in delight!  I was thrilled to see some of my favorite flowers beginning to bloom on the way to chuch.. chipping delightedly to my Mother “Oh Mommy, look at the Forsythia bush starting to bloom, look at my favorite.. the hyacinth.. see the happy little daffodils, the pansies with their cute little faces, and the crocus?”   My mother however, being an “A type personality, with a get it done attitude” had getting to church on time on her mind, wanting to set a good example for her "boys",  and urged me strongly to hurry along.  My heart was to drink in the beauty I was seeing and to stop and smell the flowers, but I obediently obeyed my mother.

Little did I know our pastor, Dr. Ackerman who everyone loved would be giving a sermon that morning on “Stopping to smell the Roses”.  He explained about the importance of majoring on the major things in life and minoring on the minors.  He said many times we get so caught up in the have to’s of life that we forget about stopping along the way to enjoy life and what God has placed in front of us to enjoy!  My mother turned to me with tears in her eyes mouthing the words “I’m sorry”.   
As an adult, I realize there is a need for both getting things done decently and in order, but there also needs to be time taken along the way to stop and smell the roses.
Christmas time is one of those times we can somehow get so caught up with all the details of what has to be done and forget the major thing, which is to celebrate the anniversary of Jesus’ Birth….   I love watching music and movie shows on TV that stir the Christmas Spirit.  I want to enjoy every manger scene at every church I pass.. I want to stop and smell the invigorating scent of pine from our tree, I want to drink in the beauty of the poinsettia plants, and the holly.  I want to read the story of the birth of Christ to my granddaughter..  I want to remember kissing my husbands and family members under the mistletoe too!! 
With so many traditions being taken away from Americans today having to do with Christ and Christmas, it is important that believers do whatever they can in my opinion to keep it alive.  In the endeavor to “not offend anyone” we are offending God in major ways.  Our nation was founded with Christian values and beliefs, and yet today Christ is being pushed out of everything, even the word Christmas is being changed to Holiday.  Don’t you think we as a nation have become more like the frog in the kettle? 

The Holy Spirit is a gentleman and will not stay where He is not invited.  If the restrainer (God) is taken away, we will be in dire straits.  This is happening right before our very eyes, and yet many just sit in the kettle like the frog while the heat is being turned up.. and we don’t even have the sense to jump out of the kettle.  

I believe what is restraining men/women today is biblical morality knit to the human conscience – eternity has been written on the heart of every man/woman, and yet many make up excuses in their own hearts and minds to reject it and the one who has made it possible.  As men and women continue to suppress the truth, or try to justify things such as abortion, their conscience becomes more and more seared and they will throw off the “bonds” of biblical morality.  As the conscience erodes, man will continue to change their own laws to reflect what is alive in their demented conscience.  They will have exchanged truth for  lies, and will mock those who are trying to follow the ways of the bible.  They will defend, rationalize and validate their immoral views and pat themselves on the back for doing so.  Okay.. so now I am done preaching!!! 
My 16 year old grandson is here visiting us this week unexpectedly with my son.  I am delighted to have them both here, but it has been anything but the perfect timing for my husband and me.  We have so much to do with our business with the Christmas Holiday just starting, our bank account is about nil at the moment so it will limit our ability to enter into some of the activities we would like to take them to.  On top of all this my son brought food for a Christmas Dinner complete with Turkey and Ham.  I ended up cooking the dinner which I loved doing, but it really cut into my already busy schedule.  I wouldn’t trade doing this for the world, but on the other hand.. not the best timing! I was lamenting to my husband about how much I would like to be doing more, and his comment was “honey we will do what we can do… how about an old fashioned Christmas where the important thing is being together”?  such wisdom
How true. The IMPORTANT thing is being together.  I have taken his advice and we have been enjoying this unexpected time with my son and grandson.  Talking and laughing together…  tonight we plan to go to a place nearby that sells all kinds of chocolate and has a Christmas Village set up.  After that, we are looking forward to A Christmas Boat Parade at the inlet with boats all decorated with Christmas lights, and my youngest son and his family may attend.  This year is not bedecked on the grandiose scale of Christmas shows .. dinners at special restaurants and lavish gifts of previous years, but that is okay.  This year I am going to try to focus on what is important… The Reason for the season... unto US a gift has been given , my family, my friends, and giving to those who have been forgotten in life.  I want to actively seek even more so those who have a need I can meet.

My prayer for you is that the bells of Christmas will ring loudly in your heart this year awakening you spirit and proclaiming over and over that God loves you SOOO SOOOO much... He was born so you may live a fantastic life filled with wonder all year long!  Please take time this year to stop and smell the pine trees or whatever makes you recall and rekindle all that Christmas encompasses, but please get alone somewhere so you can reflect on the greatest of gifts, remembering the very greatest gift we can give to God is our heart.
I want to take time to smell the roses this Christmas and to be thankful  for the greatest of Gifts…
O’ Come Let Us Adore Him .. Christ the Lord
Christmas Blessings...
Written by: Donsie  12/3/11

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

STORY OF THE CANDY CANE









The LEGEND of the Candy Cane
A Candymaker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would help us remember who Christmas is really about. So he made a Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ.
He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus. Hard candy to symbolize the solid rock, the foundation of the Church, and firmness of the promises of God.
The candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the name of Jesus. It also represented the staff of the "Good Shepherd".
The candymaker then included “red stripes”.  He used three small stripes and a large red stripe to represent the suffering Christ at the end of His life.
The candy became known as the “Candy Cane”- a decoration seen at Christmas time.  The meaning has faded, but still brings joy to children young and old whom Jesus treasures.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS IS LOVE










THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS

The heart of Christmas is LOVE

The LOVE Jesus gives us to share with others

The LOVE that makes each of us special to Him


The heart of Christmas is JOY

The JOY we receive through His grace

the expectant JOY that carries us into a New Year



The Heart of Christmas is PEACE

the peace that comes from knowing Jesus

the blessed assurance that comes from

placing our lives in His hands



MAY THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS

THE LOVE OF JESUS ,

THE JOY OF GRACE

AND THE PEACE OF GOD

BE YOURS NOW AND THROUGHOUT

THE COMING YEAR...

HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS


(John 10:10) ..."I come that they might have LIFE, and that they might have it more ABUNDANTLY "            



With One breathe from Heaven

LOVE was born and 

Peace made a home in our Hearts




Praying you'll be blessed with the Peace of God's
Love and the JOY of Christ's birth   (Phil 4:7)

Written by Donsie 


OUR SAVIOR IS HERE!


 


OUR SAVIOR IS HERE
A MERRY TIME OF YEAR!

A Time for celebrating the Reason for the Season
Proclaiming Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards men.

Preparations planned with care, eggnog, crisp cold air
hot chocolate, mittens and snowflakes everywhere!


Sugarplum fairies dancing in children's heads,
everyone dressed in Green and Reds

Trees decorated with tinsel and bright lights,
chestnuts, wonderland nights, and festive holiday sights

Angels and stars to crown it's splendor,
family times so warm and tender

Packages wrapped with love in shiny bows,
anticipation and Joy from head to toes!

Holiday parties, Christmas recipe delights,
mistletoe and candlelights

Believers gathering within the church,
singing hymns about His birth.

What a memorable and meaningful time of year...

MAY ALL CREATION SING OUR SAVIOR IS HERE!

donsiesdialongs 2011


Sunday, July 31, 2011

CHRISTMAS LETTER 1995 BE IT UNTO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD

BE IT UNTO ME ACCORDING TO THY WORD

"For with God Nothing Shall be Impossible".  (Luke 1:37)


Dear Friends:
We are sending our Christmas letter a little late as we have been preoccupied with some situations that have required our attention.  My mother, who will be 90 in a few days, moved here in July... and has had two unfortunate falls recently, confining her to the hospital over Christmas.   We are now in the process of working out plans to re-pack and distribute her belongings, close out her new apartment that we just unpacked and get her settled in after staying with us at our home.  Now her health is in such a place due to the broken hip that we must place her in a Nursing Home.  In the midst of ALL this, we have been involved in preparing for our Christmas and New Year's Services.  Working outside the church to supplement our income, has helped make it a very busy Holiday Season!  Donna's Dad broke his hip requiring three operations and is also in the last stages of Parkinson's.. so there have been several trips to Florida to be with him and her Mom,  ... who, as primary caretaker, is becoming weary.  She is such a beautiful example of servanthood, never complaining and always encouraging us..we pray for God's will and grace.

We were blessed to have Chip, Suzanne, Colin and their new addition... Brandon, (born on Donna's birthday!) come visit for Thanksgiving vacation. They live in Florida. We had a wonderful time of fellowship and sharing with them...

Todd, our youngest son, came up from Tampa for Christmas college break. He bought a beautiful Rust colored Lab puppy while he was here, with a great temperment, just like Todd!  He is going through a painful breakup and so our hearts have been breaking for him.  He has strong character, so we know in time and some healing he will be fine.

Mark, Michelle, and Mandy (our ONLY girl grandchild!) are all doing well in New York.  Marty, Keri and Jeshua have a new addition to their family also, his name is Zachary.  At present, we thank God for 5 beautiful grandchildren .  Marty and Keri's house burned to the ground with all their belongings, while they were away in Vermont just before Christmas.  They are trusting in the Lord, believing that God will turn this into something good, we are believing also. 

Many of you have requested that we write and tell you what God is doing in our lives as pastors of Heart To Heart....and why it's difficult to reach us, so we'll try to fill you in.... Our church has been in a wonderful time of bonding, molding, and shaping, causing us to be tied with cords of love..as we watch His hand form a Core Group that is focused on HIM.  As a body of believers, we are very close, and knitted together. We have been teaching a series on "Renewing the Mind" and fruit is starting to coming forth.  All in all, it has been a year of growth, change, and stretching.  The precious Holy Spirit has moved mightily and powerfully in our midst to bring much repentance, joy, laughter, and deliverance.  The presence of the Lord has so inhabited our Praise and Worship time, that we have been barely able to stand during many services, Glory to God!  Prophecy has been flowing powerfully from the congregation, as God speaks forth His words of encouragement and direction.  Donna and I continue to serve as clergy on Kairos teams, and other

Prison Ministry functions, as well as our own church ministering together as a team periodically.  What a privilege to serve God in this capacity. I believe the reason we are seeing fruit is because we have purposed in our hearts to love God with our whole hearts and to seek Him and press in for a deeper relationship.

Counseling, as always, continues to require vast amounts of our time, patience and love.  This year, we completed a twenty page Life History Questionnaire, and a ten page Spiritual Walk Questionnaire, to be filled out and returned at least one week prior to counseling.  Our appointments have been booked two months in advance, and even more at times.  God is asking those coming to be willing for change, to be honest with God and themselves, ready to remove all the masks and get REAL.  He is calling for true repentance, and a desire for holiness.  But, none of this will happen unless we are open to His healing love and being open to His healing. 

Those coming are getting set free by God’s grace, (especially Pastors and leaders who have been held captive in bondages for many years)! Hallelujah!  It is so amazing to watch God work.. it is so easy and light when He ordains it, all we need do is yield to Him.  God is looking for relationship.  Everything comes out of that one things.  Loving God. We are also in the beginning stages of preparing a 21 week series, called "Solid Rock", a foundational study in three parts... of 7 teachings each.  

We had the opportunity to preach and minister at many churches in our area this past year, seeing God move in Signs and Wonders, and dramatically change lives causes our hearts to rejoice exceedingly.  The closer I become to the Lord, the more I realize that all I want to be is a lover of God and people.   We have been invited to give our Weekend Marriage Seminar again... ..this time in Georgia.  Both Donna and I are in the embryo stages of several books that God has prompted us to write too.  One of the books Donna hopes to write is on Spiritual Mapping and Intercession.

Let us incline our ear to what the Lord is revealing in this fresh outpouring of His Holy Spirit.  As the challenges for believers in Christ Jesus increases more and more, let us be ever mindful that His abundant Grace increases more and more also to spur us on to do His will and fullfill His unique calling on each one of our lives. God has impressed upon our hearts this year again..that His FAITHFULNESS knows no limits.  May we allow Him to fill us more and more with His FAITH this coming year, so that we may be found FAITHFUL to Him, FULL OF FAITH.  Praise His Holy Name...He reigns victorious in ALL our situations!   

The word He gave us prophetically for this Season, and as a directive for the New Year is.. "Be it unto Me according to thy Word" (Luke 1:38).  We pray you will receive it into YOUR spirits as well.  May He carve upon each one of our hearts the truth that sets us free as we endeavor to trust and serve HIM in unity of purpose and vision.  May God bless you and keep you now and in the upcoming New Year.

Remembering Friends Like You,    

Bart & Donna Trexler 
written 12/28/95



Don Moen ~ Rivers of Joy CD
BE IT UNTO ME

Be it unto me
According to your Word
According to your promises
I can stand secure
Carve upon my heart
The truth that sets me free
According to your Word O Lord
Be it unto me

You promised your word will deliver
Lord, we believe it's true
You promised us joy like a river
Lord we receive it from you
These things you have spoken
And you're bringing to pass
This world's disappearing
But your word will last

Chorus

You promised to carry our sorrows
Lord, we believe it's true
You promised unending tomorrows
Lord we receive them from you
These things you have spoken
And you're bringing to pass
This world's disappearing
But your word will last



Refrain

CHRISTMAS LETTER 2003 MY MOTHER AND HUSBAND'S LAST CHRISTMAS

MY LATE MOTHER DOROTHY BOYCE WITH MY SON TODD KORKER .. HER LAST CHRISTMAS 2003

MY LATE HUSBAND BART CHRISTMAS 2003 HIS LAST CHRISTMAS


PS ….. THIS IS WRITTEN DEC 3, 2009…. As I reread this letter, I realized it was Bart’s last christmas and New Year and my mother’s too.  Whew .. what emotions were stirred up.   My mother went to be with the Lord March 12, 2004… and my husband died Dec 4, 2004 ..from a brain tumor nine months later.. Our times are certainly in God’s hands. God allowed me to have a special Christmas and New Year with both of them.  My life has changed dramatically since that time.  I am now  living in Florida and happily remarried by God’s grace to a wonderful, Godly man named Joe...we married October 17, 2007 almost three years after Bart's passing away.

The will of God will not take you were the Grace of God cannot keep you.



Hi Friends and Family!  Christmas Letter 2003




We just got home from a long time away.    We had a blessed time with Mom at the Christmas show that was given by the Nursing Home she is living at.  She had fun opening some of her gifts and it brought her some joy.  She is in the dementia wing and she has been failing.  She doesn't have much memory and it is difficult for the family who loves her so much seeing her go downhill.  I see her almost every day and Bart sees her twice a week when we take her out to dinner, and we have a woman who comes over once a week to be with her or take her out also.  It was great that some of the family came to visit over several weeks during Thanksgiving as that brought happiness into her life.  She is losing interest more and more, I bring over old pictures of the children when they were younger and more recent ones and she never ceases to not become bored with them!!  She just tells me the story over and over again .. like “Oh that is Dad with Chip and Todd fishing at Cape Cod” or the like! 


Bart and I left a week ago Thursday and drove up to Charlotte to do some shopping and to stop at some toy train store stops.. There is an awesome Mall in Charlotte and one of my favorite restaurants.. the Village Tavern that we usually go to while in Winston Salem once a year right around the Thanksgiving holiday when it is all decorated for Christmas, but we tried the one in Charlotte.. it was all decorated for Christmas and so festive!! This restaurant is kind of our pre- Christmas place and it is so much fun, it is like our own little secret romantic place.


The next day we went to Cannon Village/Kannapolis where Bart purchased two pieces of Fontanini for me for Christmas that I am crazy about... one is the Carpenter shop and it reminds me of Jesus being a carpenter and my darling Bart was one too...so it reminds me of my TWO loves!!  Also, he bought me the Jewish wedding Hoopa and the bride and groom.. which reminds me of the bride of Christ and that He is coming for us.. precious ones.. our Bridegroom cometh!!! When he gave it to me he told me he would marry me all over again, what a man. Last year he bought me the tower with the girl holding the lamp and the person on the top of the tower on the lookout (the intercessor!)...  He also bought a woman with grapes which makes me think about Father God being our vinedresser... (In the book "Secrets of the Vine"... in one of the paragraphs it says that when a cluster of grapes falls and would otherwise be discarded, the vinedresser, picks it up, washes it off and then props it up again on the vine so it can flourish.. what a picture of God's love for us in our fallen state!!  I have them up almost the whole year, as I can't seem to part with them after Christmas.. so they have become part of our decor!!!  Bart loves them I think even more than I do!!


We then drove to and then to Burlington, N.C to a great Italian restaurant that my nephew Court, and his wife Stephanie had taken us to a few years ago, and then to Raleigh on Sunday for a toy train show.  Bart’s eyes light up just like a little boy at these shows and he wants to tell me about all that he knows about the trains, where they came from etc.  It is so cute.


After that we drove home,  Sunday night, unpacked, did wash, repacked and were off again the next day.  We stopped off to have Christmas with my Mom before we left and had a fun visit with her and she opened the rest of her gifts from us.  Every moment with her is precious, we do have our times which as she progresses in this dementia gets worse and emotionally I have a very hard time and so does Bart, but I love her more than words can say and she knows that. We then drove to Jacksonville, Florida to visit first Chip and his family, as it was Suzanne's year for her family and they all live in the Jacksonville area.. we stayed overnight in a motel that Chip  arranged for us and they had a room down the hall with the children. we had a great time with them and stayed up late talking until after 2:30 AM!  The next day was Suzanne's birthday.


Then, we drove to Todd's and he and CJ had the best Christmas present I have ever gotten in my life... CJ is pregnant!!!


We are beyond ECSTATIC as you know the chances were only a miracle from God that this would EVER happen and so we are dancing the Hallelujah!!!!   Todd is the son who had cancer and all of you had been praying for...Please pray now for a HEALTHY baby in early August!!!!  We had a great time staying with them and a wonderful celebration dinner at a great Italian restaurant. Todd was in such shock when he heard the news, his knees buckled and he fell on the floor thanking God!!!. We stayed up until after 4 AM talking! What a miracle gift!


Next day we drove to my nephew Tommy and his wife Jackie, went to a great Christmas Eve party with them, they have wonderful friends, and spent Christmas with them.  Christmas day they had a large get together with about 50 people all catered.. we really had a blessed time with them, they are so special to us.


The next day we drove to Port St. Lucie to stay overnight with my sister Gwen and her new husband Bob.  We shared gifts and then went out to dinner.  Bob and Gwen and Bob's Mom had gone over to Bob's family in Naples for Christmas and had a really nice time.


We then drove north to St. Augustine Florida and met Chip, Suzanne and the children and had a ball .. they took us to a great restaurant and I had crab legs.. then to all the shops that night in St Augustine it is a wonderful and fun place to go.. we topped off the evening by going on a train ride all through the city that played Christmas songs.  We bought some really good Italian food back to our motel rooms and had such fun.. had breakfast together and then home ..... what a great Christmas!!


We wanted to take mother out to dinner tonight for an early New Year's, but she was not feeling up to it, so we will try for breakfast or lunch tomorrow and have our New Year's with her and we are planning to stay home tomorrow night or perhaps to a local church service. 


God is SO GOOD... Bart has been as always a darling,  my best friend and so helpful and supportive... As we are now approaching our 29th anniversary the middle of January, I am becoming more and more aware daily of the amazing gift God has given me... my precious husband.  Bart says our marriage was made in heaven and I must agree with him! He grows dearer and dearer to me every day and I am so grateful for him.. I believe this is MY season, it is like I am holding on to each moment and treasuring all that God has given me.   


Dearest friends and family, as this New Year approaches... I pray God's blessings upon you, may you truly experience a New Beginning this coming year .. may it be filled with expectancy and may God's grace be upon you.  


You are loved 


xoxo Donna 



Happy New Year!!


We took mom out to dinner tonight to Hops .. she has such a hard time, Todd had made up a build a bear just for her with a recorder in it and a message from him.. we gave it to her tonight.  after we gave it to her, we called Todd and Todd told her the news about he and CJ having a baby.. she was happy for them, but didn't remember that Todd had had cancer.  She has such minute interest in anything and can't remember people, times, places etc, but she remembers the grandchildren and immediate family members and some of her friends...  not always by name.  she is in her own little world and it makes it hard to deal with for me to accept where she is at. 


She has no interest in her appearance, taking baths, doesn't want to wash or do her hair etc.. and that was so totally unlike her.  She was always so immaculate and caring about her appearance.  She has a hard time eating and so we cut and feed her as she misses her mouth.  We are there to take her out toe eat twice a week which she loves and a women who comes in once a week, but we are going to move that up to twice a week.  She badly needs a haircut, but she keeps refusing to have anything done, even if I go with her.  It is becoming exceedingly more difficult to take her out at all because she is like a rag doll in the wheel chair and it takes all of Bart's strength to lift her in and out of the wheel chair, but she does love getting out and she loves to eat out too, so it is worth it.


However, she loved the bear and kept asking Bart and I to press the button so Todd could sing to her!! she thought he was IN the bear singing!!   That was the most excited we have seen her since the family was here at Thanksgiving.  We did have a good time with her tonight.  She keeps kissing our hands and telling us how much she loves us.. it is precious.. Just wish her quality of life was better.  She knows she is loved, adored and honored that is what is important.  She just adores Bart it amazes me the love they have for one another.  I have been so blessed to have a husband who cares for my mother and puts himself out to the extent he does for her.


Tonight after dinner, we cleaned her room, took down the Christmas tree and her cards and put Todd's bear in the room on her end table and brought over some clothes I had washed for her.   


Last night was New Year's Eve and we mostly stay home, we have had many church services here on New Year’s in years past, and thought of even going to church, but decided we love each others company so much, that we would do our family New Year…I make the traditional things Mom used to make every New Year's Eve... fondue, stuffed mushrooms, clam and onion dip and chips, Mom's shrimp marinara, Swedish meatballs and champagne!  We tried to pick up mom the night before, but they said she had had a bad day and wanted to go to bed early.. and she was not feeling well to take her here for New Year's Eve, so we spoke to her and told her we loved her and she said we needed to come next year and she would have champagne with us!  Bart said to me each year he loves me more and that he has loved our life together!  How can anyone ask for more? 

We got so interested in watching the story of John in the book of Revelation (the Apocalypse) on the Christian television network and then 30 years of music show on ETV and the ball going down that the night flew by.   we decided not to have the champagne until another night when Mom can be with us here as we are concerned she won’t be here with us next year.

Well, have to get up early tomorrow morning.. as I am going in for some blood tests as I am hoping to be part of a group that studies people who have diabetes.  I did so well over the Holidays by God's grace... 

Anyway.. may you all be blessed with the most wonderful New Year.. my girlfriend heard the Lord say  "An open Door in 2004".. may we all walk through the doors God has for us and find that this coming year will bring us closer to Him and His ways.    


xoxo Donna



From Our Heart To Yours ...
Rev's. Bart & Donna Trexler

donnatrec@yahoo.com
 

CHRISTMAS LETTER 1997 ALL YE FAITHFUL

       
OH COME ALL YE FAITHFUL
O' COME ALL YE FAITHFUL TO BETHLEHEM

To our Heart To Heart Family
Christmas Letter 1997:

As we enter into this blessed season of rejoicing and jubilation, we want you to know how special you are to us and to the Lord.  Your gifts of love throughout the year encourage us and help us to carry out that which God has called us to do. You are very precious gifts to us.  Each one of you is so unique with matchless talents and abilities.  We appreciate your prayers and support, as they uphold and assure us that we are not alone.  Each one of you is a special treasure, and we thank God for you.

The theme God has given us for this Christmas is, “O come all ye Faithful”.   God has impressed upon our hearts this year again... that his “Faithfulness” knows no limits.

We believe God is calling his “faithful” (the ones who were willing to go through the testing fires) to “Come” now and drink of his refreshing, waters, and enter into his rest... free from lack of trust, fear, striving and offenses, unforgiveness, criticism and debt, and so much more. 

A year for the “Lion to lay down with the Lamb”.  Those who have been found “faithful” to Him will encounter a special measure of FAITH as they enter into the New Year.

That is what the Lord made clear.  He is the FAITHFUL ONE, FAITHFUL AND TRUE.  As we are Faithful to the Faithful One, He then fills us with miraculous faith to believe the impossible.  It is a gift to his Faithful.

May the wonder of the Christ Child be birthed afresh and anew in your hearts this year as we come together to worship and adore HIM.  Our hope is that you and the ones you hold near and dear will be filled with JOY and PEACE this Christmas. Our sincere desire is that you will experience MORE OF JESUS in 1998.  May you prosper in every area as you celebrate this … ”YEAR OF JUBILEE”!

 In His Service,

Pastors Bart & Donna Trexler           
Heart To Heart Christian Church
Summerville, SC

donnatrex@yahoo.com    
        



O Come All Ye Faithful!
  
The text to the Carol O Come All Ye Faithful was originally
written in Latin (Adeste Fideles) and was intended to be a hymn,
it is attributed to John Wade, an Englishman. The music to
O Come All Ye Faithful was composed by fellow Englishman
John Reading in the early 1700s. The tune was first published
in a collection known as "Cantus Diversi" in 1751. In 1841
Rev. Frederick Oakley is reputed to have worked on the
familiar translation of O Come All Ye Faithful which
replaced the older Latin lyrics "Adeste Fideles".

O Come All Ye Faithful : Lyrics

Oh Come All Ye Faithful
Joyful and triumphant,
O Come ye, O Come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

O Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing all that hear in heaven God's holy word.
Give to our Father glory in the Highest;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
 

CHRISTMAS LETTER 1996 GREAT JOY!




Silent Night, Holy Night ... a church in winter

Dearest Friends and Loved Ones:



We enter this festive Christmas Season with exceeding GREAT JOY!  This has been and extraordinary year in so many ways, our cup overfloweth!


Here’s the news of the events in our lives for 1996:


Mark and Michelle are awaiting their second child in February.  Our granddaughter, Mandy is excited and looks forward to a new brother or sister.  Mark enjoys hunting when he has time off and has taken up his grandfather’s hobby of fly fishing and LOVES it!  He’s getting a surprise this Christmas, he’s inheriting his Grandpa’s vest, pouch, flies and paraphernalia which we believe will be nostalgic for him!


Keri, Marty, Jeshua and Zachary are in their gorgeous new home that Marty has built after the fire which burned their home to the ground, destroying everything.  They have already sold it, and are looking to build another one!  Their faith in God through the ordeal sustained them. Keri has a large freshwater fish tank and she is so excited about it. We have great discussions about fish, as we also have a fish tank. 


Chip, Suzanne, Colin and Brandon are in Florida and doing well.  Colin plays soccer and Brandon keeps Suzanne busy! Suzanne and Donna enjoy praying together and discussing JESUS!! Chip has started his own business after leaving the Television station last year where he was directing and producing television commercials and shows.  Things are progressing fantastically after a slow start and they just had a landmark month!


Todd is in his last year of  the Univ. S. Fla., in Tampa, graduating (early!) in May.  His finals are today, and he is looking forward to a much deserved vacation. He was planning to go into dentistry, but at present is looking into other areas also.  He is dating a woman named Christie who is working towards her RN and has a little girl named Paige.  He loves scuba diving with his friends and Chip. He has been an immeasurable help and support with Donna’s mother. His marvelous dog, Citron is just a little over a year now, bringing back memories of Todd and Donna picking him out together last Christmas!


Donna’s sister and brother in law, Gwen and Tom are now retired and have bought a home five minutes from Chip and Suzanne. All the cousins are very close.  Tommy is engaged and lives in Fort Lauderdale, and Courtland was just married in July which means the cousins will be seeing each other even more frequently than they do at present, and Donna and I will be able to see Tom and Gwen more often! 


Donna’s Dad is now in a nursing home in the last stages of  Parkinson’s and Mother Boyce has been nothing short of miraculous in the way she has persevered through this time period.  She came to visit in July for Donna’s 50th birthday, after five years of not being able to travel with Dad.  The whole church fell in love with her and consider her part of the congregation.  Her visit was the highlight of Donna’s year!  My mother will be 91in January and is in a nursing home nearby. 


She comes to church on Sunday’s and we eat together afterwards. She has a day out on Saturday where she gets her hair done and nails and then out to dinner.  We try to have a movie night once a week at our home for her with some Movie Classics and popcorn.  We have fun doing that with her and she really enjoys it.  We top the evening off with ice cream which she loves before taking her back to her place. After a lifetime of going to the Methodist Church, she now desires to commit to Heart to Heart!  She is doing amazingly well for her age, but we see her slipping.. she’s now in a wheelchair.  My siser, Carmen, and my neice Donna came to visti Mother this year and we had a very short, but marvelous time together while they were here.   
                                          
As for the church, we have had the most prosperous year since our beginning four years ago.  This has been a year of fruit in abundance!  Lives have been dramatically changed and transformed, salvations, marriages saved, deliverance, openness, prophecy flowing like milk and honey, miracles, healings of body, soul and spirit!  God’s river of love has certainly touched each one of our lives intensely.  We have found a building and are in the process of negotiating, which is exciting and also sobering.  We have over tripled in size in the last few months and are expanded to our limit here, and have no choice but to move to a larger facility.  I LOVE THE WAY GOD MAKES THINGS SO SIMPLE.. YOU OUTGROW A PLACE AND HE HAS ANOTHER PREPARED!

Donna is enjoying her 50th year of JUBILEE, and was blessed beyond words at the surprise party the church threw for her!  She is still in the process of writing several books, finding very little time to do the work on it she desires.  The extra load of responsibilities with all the new people in the church has been difficult for her and we are praying for a church secretary to help. She is certainly the wing beneath my wings. 

As for me, seeing the fruit of our labor begin to come to pass has brought much joy.  God has given us a very specific vision and direction. We have begun a series of  Foundational teaching and training classes which we believe are needed for the next step God has for the church.  One of the highlights of this year for me was going to Promise Keeper’s with Chip and Todd.  It was a great time of what Chip and Todd have dubbed “Male Bonding”!  After the event, Chip took me scuba diving in West Palm Beach. Seeing God’s creation under the sea is indescribably beautiful.

Donna and I still continue to be involved with prison ministry, although our schedule and other responsibilities have taken a lot more time and we have had to pull back in that area.  Donna was Clergy on a Teen ministry weekend in the Spring   It looks as though Christian Drama is in the embryonic stages in our church, and music ministry is taking a new turn, as we have just purchased a new Keyboard and Drum set.  Our Ministers of Music have a gifting of leading the Saints of God into EXPERIENCING thanksgiving, praise, and worship, not just participating in worship.  New areas of  personal prophecy and prophetic corporate worship have come forth, which is very exciting for us all! We are training up three very faithful people for Eldership, and our hearts are so knitted and bonded together in one purpose! Counseling still consumes large amounts of our time, two gifted women are starting to help in that area.

Kay Lahey, our mentor and friend has moved down from New York and has an apartment only three miles from our home.  Her wisdom and love has been and continues to be a blessing in so many ways. She is in leadership, and is heading up the area of prayer in the church … intercessory prayer, prayer partners, and is working on getting together pre-service prayer warriors, etc….

We pray that this Christmas will bring much joy and peace to your hearts…. May the light of JESUS shine brightly in your hearts for the world to see.  May you prosper in every way this coming New Year, and may you see the fulfillment of promises God has given to you.  We believe 1997 will be a year of miracles and blessings, let us prepare our hearts in repentance, fasting and prayer as 1996 comes to an end, leaving any old baggage at the cross of Jesus. May we allow Him to change us and do the work in our hearts so we may be used as His vessels to serve Him in this important hour. We desire to enter this New Year throwing out the ballast, so we may sail into 1997 free to do the will of the God.  The harvest is at hand beloved…. Let us go forth into the fields with the winds of our sails directed by the Holy Spirit, and bring in the sheaves to lay at Father’s feet….. GET READY, GET READY, GET READY… God is getting ready to MOVE… Signs, Wonders and MIRACLES are on the HORIZON!!


Merry Christmas & love from Dixie!

                                                                                          
Pastors Bart and Donna Trexler